Security firms want the government to allow them armed their personnel with guns and other relevant weapons amid growing insecurity.
The firms call comes as the country sees a sharp rise in insecurity, which has prompted the police and army to launch an offensive clampdown on criminal hideouts.
Managing Director of Vigilant Security, Haddy Faal said: “Yes it’s high time. The reason why we said it is high time is because the crime rates are getting too much and even these criminals are using guns. We don’t know if it is original [real], fake or rubber bullets but to be on the safer side we should also train our people.”
However, she stressed the need for the personnel to be trained before being allowed to use guns on duty.
“You cannot give anybody anything, if you don’t train the person. But if you make sure you train the person in a good way and give him materials. I think if you train them how to use it. I think the crime rates will be reduced,” Ms Faal said
She is confident that if the private security guards are well trained and equipped, they can complement the government’s efforts in strengthening national security.
“I hope that the government will help us to also send our guards for training, so that all these problems that are happening, guards will be able to support the police. So that if they need any state security and it is not enough and things are getting higher, they can communicate to security companies to help them with guards,” she added.
Meanwhile, Halifa Manneh, Managing Director, ‘Jallow Security’ is supportive of the use of guns by the personnel, but stressed the need for them to be trained before allowing them to use any.
“We should train them first; they (security officers) should be well trained on how to handle guns before it is given to them. When you go to the army, they know how to shoot and there is a law that if you kill somebody you should be killed. For me, I’m in support of using guns. I believe whatever we should use should be in line with (the 1997) Constitution,” he said.
On the contrary, Lamin Gano, proprietor of Five Star security firm disagreed with the usage of guns by the personnel, but recommended to the government to allow them use cutlasses the same way they are allowed to use handcuffs and batons, which he said are not enough for the task.
“I think those things might not be enough (handcuffs and batons), probably cutlasses for self-defence because the thieves are going with those kinds of tools. They go with scissors, knives and you don’t respond to a knife with a batten, you don’t respond to a cutlass with a baton. A baton might not be effective to counter someone who is having a knife or cutlass,” he said.